Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.

senses. I know their haunts and habits, and have closely- studied their numerous forms. Take the disease called erysipelas, for instance ; are you not aware that in this malady micrococci are found in the lymph vessels of the skin?" " Does that prove that the organisms cause the dis- ease ?" demanded Athothis. " Yes!" responded Paulus Androcydes, in a decided and very positive tone. " Because, after carefully ex- cluding the erysipelas micrococci from other bacteria, you may raise a pure breed of these animals, which being introduced into the human body, produce erysipe- las. Can you any longer doubt that this disease is due to a special germ ?" " Such reasoning renders me even more sceptical," answered Athothis; "for, methinks any organism de- rived from morbific matter inherits the toxic properties of its genetic source, and that the strength of its poi- sonous principle may be attenuated in direct ratio as the so-called germ is removed from primal influences. I remember once, when I inhabited the body of a rabbit, that I partook very freely of belladonna berries, and, while thus employed, was shot by a hunter, who, together with his family, feasted on my flesh. Two of this poor man's children died of eating me. Now, I contend that rabbit meat is not in itself unhealthy food. Yet, it sometimes engenders belladonna poisoning." " Aha !" cried Paulus Androcydes, "you will presently commit yourself to the modern theory." " Never !" said Athothis, firmly. " While I do not deny that many low organisms are apparent in conditions of disease, I contend that they are the result and not the cause of morbific action. According to this same